The Regional Approach to the Geography Curriculum in Morocco: Integrating the Spatial Dimension into Learning Processes and Fostering Territorial Citizenship

Abstract

This study addresses the issue of the regional approach to the Geography curriculum within the context of the transformations experienced by Morocco following the adoption of the Advanced Regionalization project as a strategic choice for reorganizing territories and strengthening territorial governance. The study starts from the premise that regionalization is not limited to the redistribution of administrative powers between the central authority and regions, but also extends to the educational field through the integration of territorial, cultural, and economic specificities within the education system.

The study aims to analyze the possibilities of integrating the regional dimension into the Geography curriculum and to highlight its role in making learning more connected to learners’ realities and their surrounding environment. It also emphasizes the importance of shifting from an approach based on abstract knowledge towards an approach that links learning with investigation, field research, and the use of territory as a space for knowledge construction. Furthermore, the study examines the challenges related to achieving a balance between incorporating regional specificities and preserving the unity of the national curriculum and shared identity.

The research problem focuses on the extent to which the regional approach can contribute to the development of Geography teaching and transform it into a tool for understanding territorial issues and contributing to territorial development. The article concludes that the success of this approach depends on strengthening regional educational governance, improving teacher training, and developing didactic resources that make use of local and regional environments, thus enabling the school to become a space for educating learners who are aware of their surroundings and actively engaged in the issues of their society